Inspectors Give Mambo Italiano a 56-U

Gwinnett Health Inspectors gave a popular Italian eatery located at The Forum a failing grade recently.

According to the inspection report, the restaurant's permit was suspended Tuesday, Sept. 17, after receiving a 56-U. The restaurant's owner closed the business that afternoon until he could attend a compliance hearing the following morning.


Patch followed up on Thursday, (Sept. 19) and spoke with the restaurant's manager, David Linch, who said the restaurant is back in operation after the compliance hearing on Wednesday.

Linch said that at the hearing they disputed a number of the items listed on the report as inaccurate.

"We challenged a lot of things on the inspection report," said Linch. "We sat down with the inspector (at the hearing) to talk about them. For instance, the inspector had deducted 18 points for a manger not being on duty, but there were two of us here at the time of the inspection."

He said more points were deducted because "the backdoor was not shutting all the way," and other minor infractions.

The inspector also noted observing a roach "crawling along the beverage tubing behind a soda dispensing station." 

Linch said the restaurant has a good exterminator that services the restaurant regularly and surmised the insect managed to get in from the outside through an open door.

According to the inspector's report "the owner was present during the inspection," but told inspectors  "that he does not accept the report." However the owner did voluntarily close shortly after at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Restaurant inspectors sited Mambo Italiano for a number of infractions including:

• Oily residue and food particles found on two containers and utensils in the clean dish area.
• Dried debris found on deli slicer's blade and platform.
• Bleu cheese, hard boiled egg, milk in coolers were not maintained at required 41F.
• Improper cooling methods in walk-in cooler
• Wall baseboard behind the ice machine in disrepair with standing water in the area.